Shoe-tip



(No Model.)

H. W.. MERRILL. SHOE TIP.

No. 448,247. Patented Mar. 17, 1891,

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UNITED S'ra rns ATET FFlCE HOLLIS \V. MERRILL, OF LYNN, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SHOE TIP COMPANY, OF BOSTON, BJIASSACHUSE'PTS.

SHOE-Tip.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,247, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed May 29, 1890. Serial No. 353,567. (No model.)

To all 1072,0727, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HoLLIs W. MERRILL, of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and usefulIm provements in Solo and Upper Protectors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the blank from which my improved protector is formed, said blank being cut from a flat sheet of metal. Fig. 3isa perspective of said blank with the retaining points or projections which serve to hold the protector in place turned up at right angles to the body of the blank. This view shows the blank in the condition in which it is placed in the shaping-dies. Fig. t is a plan view of a modified form of my device. Fig. 5 is a similar view from the under side of another modified form. Fig. 0 is a plan view of another modification. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is afront View of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Solo and upper protectors, either combined in one device or each constructed as a separate device, are old; but, so far as I know, a combined sole and upper protector has never been previously constructed of such a shape as to preserve the exact contour vertically of the upper and the sole-that is, the crease be tween the upper and the sole where the upper rounds up from the sole has not been fitted by these older forms of sole and upper protectors, and consequently the style and finish of the shoe have been marred and to a large extent destroyed at the point where the device is applied, and this has been an obj ection to the general use of these devices, and has to a considerable extent precluded their use, especially in the finer grades of boots and shoes.

One of the chief objects of my invention is to produce a sole and upper protector which shall be free from this objection, and which, when carefully applied and properly colored, will not be readily distinguishable from the material of the shoe; and it consists in the device and the method of making the same hereiuafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim which is appended hereto and forms a part hereof.

In constructing in y improved protectorluse preferably ductile steel, taking a flat sheet of this material and stamping or cutting therefrom by means of suitable cutting-dies a fiat blank of the shape shown, Fig. 2. Portions a at either end of said blank are partially separated from the body thereof by cuts b, and the portions a are provided with holes 0, which may be punched therein when the blank is cut, or at a subsequent operation, if that be desirable. The parts (L are then turned up substantially at right angles to the body of the blank, as shown in Fig. 3. The blank thus prepared is then subjected to the action of pressing-dies, one of which conforms to the interior shape of the finished protector shown in Fig. 1, and the other to the exterior thereof, and the blank is molded into shape.

As will be observed, the finished device corresponds accurately to the contour of the upper and sole at the toe of a shoe, the crease or line '1' between the upper and sole being continuous around the toe after the protector is applied to the shoe, and thus the finish and style of the shoe are notimpaired. The inward projection lengthwise of the protector which fits the crease between the upper and sole serves to a certain extent to hold the protector in place when applied to the shoe; but it has not the function which the inwardlyprojecting flanges, which are common in shoetips and the like, have of serving as a means for securing the device in place, its chief object being that heretofore described of preventing the impairment of the finish and style of the shoe.

As will be obvious, my protector may be applied to the heel of a shoe as well as to the toe by slightly modifying its shape.

Figs. 4, 5, G, 7, 8, and 10 show modifications of my improved device. That shown in Figs. 4. and 10 is provided with two inwardly-projecting securing-points h, somewhat smaller than the securing-parts a, and located between thelatter. The projections hare struck up from the blank before the blank is molded or shaped, thus leaving two holes through the portion of the device which protects the sole,

as shown more clearly in said Fig. 10, and which are marked 9 thereon. These holes are a convenience, as they permit of nails or other fastenin gs being driven through the sole from the upper edge thereof, which is often desirable in repairing the shoe. The modification shown in Figs. 5 and 8 has no intermediate inwardly-projecting securing-points; but holes, as shown at 76, are provided in the front and upper edge of the portion of the protector which covers the sole, by means of which nails may be inserted, if desired. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the vertical portion of that part of the device which protects the sole is cut away, leaving only a flange or plate on top of the sole which serves as a protection therefor. This flange or plate may be cut, as shown at p, and a portion thereof turned and made to project inwardly to serve as a securing-point. The opening which is thus left permits of the insertion of nails in the same way as do the openings shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As will be clear, the number of openings or holes to permit of the insertion of nails in the sole may be varied.

hat I claim is- A sole and upper protector having a central crease from end to end thereof to fit accurately between the upper and sole, the portion of said protector extending over the upper being longer than the portion extending over the sole, said upper portion having at either end thereof and beyond the ends of the sole portion inwardly-projecting securingpoints integral therewith, and said sole portion covering only the edge of the sole and,

extending downwardly to the bottom thereof, substantially as shown and described.

HOLLIS W. MERRILL. \Vitnesses:

WM. A. MAoLEoD, ROBERT WALLACE. 

